Crutch pad



pr M, 1936. c. M; FALLON CRUTCH PAD Filed April 25, 1955 ATToR/EVPatented Apr. 14, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CRUTCH PAD Clarence M. Fallon, SanDiego, Calif., assignor of one-half to Minnie Louise Fallon, San Diego,

Calif.

Application April 23, 1935, Serial No. 17,812

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved pad or cushion construction whichis mounted upon the upper end portion of a crutch to protect the arms ofcrutch users adjacent to the arm pits.

The present application pertains to an improvement upon the crutch paddescribed and claimed in my Patent No. 1,980,044, issued No'- vember 6,1934. Insofar as the comfort of the user is concerned, the merits of thep-resent invention are similar to those set forth in the patent abovereferred to, but the present invention embodies additional advantagesamong which are lowered cost of manufacture and more convenientreplacement of the pneumatic sac whenever this becomes necessary onaccount of wear or injury.

The invention is not limited to the use of a pneumatic pad, but includesalso a novel crutch structure whereon a non-pneumatic pad may besupported in an improved manner.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may hereinafterappear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which r illustrates what is atpresent deemed to be preferred embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the complete structure.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional detail taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

30 Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is aVertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofa modication parts being broken away to contract the view and otherparts being broken away to uncover interior structures.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the crutch member 5 is bifurcated toprovide the usual two staff arms 6 which are held in properly spacedrelation to each other not only by the lower spacing pin 'I but also bythe cross bar 8 near the upper end of the crutch.

The upper end portion of each stair arm 6 is cut away or deeply notchedfor more than half its breadth, thus providing a shoulder .9 at eachside of the"`crutch substantially on a level with the upper surface ofthe cross bar 8, said shoulders both being located near the same side ofsaid bar. In the assembled structure the end portions of the pneumaticrubber bag or short tube I0 are seated 50 in the two angular notchesresulting from cutting away the structure above the shoulders 9, in themanner above stated, leaving the narrow upper staif arm extensions I I.

In order to secure said tube I0 in place and at the same time provide anecient closure means (Cl. 13B-52) for its end portions, the clampingpieces or fol-` lowers I2 are furnished, said pieces having thru each ofthem a plurality of bolt holes I3. The oppositely disposed stall partsII are likewise provided with alining bolt holes, in order that 5 boltsI4 may be inserted and nuts I5 screwed on to them to afford a clampingmeans. Preferably the parts II and I2 are respectively countersunk at I6and Ii', and washers I8 may also be used. The end portions of the tubeIll will, of course, be l0 perforated where the bolts pass thru them.

As an additional means for securing an air tight closure of the endportions of the tubular member I0 a short cord 2) is extendedlongitudinally across the inner face of each stati part II near 1.3V

the bolt holes therethru, thus producing a line of additional pressuretransversely of the ends of the tube I0 to close the ends thereof in anair tight manner when the nuts I5 have been screwed down.

The pad II) is provided with a conventional inating tube or stem ZIwhich is led down thru a hole 22 provided therefor thru the cross bar 8.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification which diifers from the form alreadydescribed only in that rein- 25 forcing metal strips 25 are inserted ingrooves provided for them in the upper face of the cross bar 8a neareach end thereof, said strips 25 having their outer end portions fittedwithin notches 26 cut into the shoulders 9. strip and the side walls ofthe notch 26 at that side extends a bolt 21, and bolts 28 thru thegrooved portions of the cross piece 8a and the strips 25`complete thestructure.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A crutch structure including a pneumatic tube positioned to form apad for the arms of the user, and means to mount said tube upon theclutch and to clamp its end portions to close them in an air tightmanner.

2. A crutch structure including a pneumatic tube positioned to form apad for the arms of the user, a crutch stair portion overlying one sideof said tube near each end thereof, and clamping means includingfollowers which engage the opposite side of said tube to grip the endportions thereof and close them air tight.

3. A crutch structure including a pneumatic tube positioned to form apad for the arms of the user, a crutch stair portion extending acrossThru each end of said 30 clamping pieces which oppose said staffportions, cords extending across said tube between said pieces and theopposed staff portions, and clamping elements to force said stairportions and said pieces towards each other and then maintain them inthe clamping condition.

4. A crutch structure including a pneumatic tube positioned to form apad for the arms oi the user, a crutch staff portion extending acrossone side of said tube near each end thereof, clamping pieces whichoppose said stai' portions, cords extending across said tube betweensaid pieces and the opposed staff portions, and bolts provided with nutsto complete the clamping structure.

5. In a crutch structure, a staff having separated arms at its upperend, a pad positioned to protect the arms of the user, said pad bridgingthe space between said staff arms, and clamping means mounted on each ofsaid stair arms and grippingthe end portions of said pad.

6. In a crutch structure, a staff having separated arms at its upperend, a pad positioned to protect the arms of the user, said pad bridgingthe space between said staff arms, a cross bar which unites said armsand underlies said pad to aid in supporting it, and clamping meansmounted on each of said staif arms and gripping the end portions of saidpad.

7. In a crutch structure, a staff having separated arms at its upperend, a pad positioned to protect the arms of the user, said pad bridgingthe space between said staff arms, a clamping member mounted on each ofsaid staff arms and gripping the end portions of said pad, and a cordinterposed between at least one of said clamping members and theadjacent side of said pad to produce a line of additional pressureacross said pad.

8. In a crutch structure, a stai having separated arms at its upper end,a pad positioned to protect the arms of the user, said pad bridging the.one side of said tube near each end thereof,

space between said staff arms, a cross-bar which unites said arms belowsaid pad, and a reinforcing strip for an end portion of said cross bar,there being recesses in said cross-bar and the adjacent staff arm toreceive said strip, and securing means to keep said strip in place.

9. In a crutch structure, a staff having separated arms at its upperend, a cross-bar bridging the space between said arms, said cross-barbeing near the upper end' of said staff, the ends of said cross-barabutting against the inner sides of said arms, there being grooves inthe upper sides of the end portions of said cross-bar which open out atthe ends thereof, reinforcing strips occupying said grooves and havingend portions which project beyond the ends of said cross-bar, therebeing recesses in said arms into which the projecting end portions ofsaid strips extend, means to secure said projecting end portions of saidstrips to said arms and to secure the remaining portions of said stripsto said cross-bar, and a pad mounted upon the crutch above saidcrossbar.

l0. In a crutch structure, a staiT having separated arms at its upperend, a cross-bar bridging the space between said arms, said cross-barbeing near the upper end of said stair, the ends of said cross-barabutting against the inner sides of said arms, there being grooves inthe upper sides of the end portions of said cross-bar which open out atthe ends thereof, reinforcing strips occupying said grooves and havingend portions which project-beyond the ends of said cross-bar, therebyproviding shoulders near the end of said crossbar, grooves extendingacross said shoulders into which the projecting end portions of saidstrips extend, means to secure said strips severally in the two groovesthus provided therefor, a pad mounted above said cross-bar and havingend portions occupying the spaces above said shoulders, and clampingmeans above said shoulders engaging the end portions of said pad.

CLARENCE M. FALLON.

